Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I drop my jaw. “Excuse me?”
His words should have me jubilant, ecstatic. One less thing to worry about—one less Steel in my sisters’ pants.
But I fear Maddie will be crushed, and this trip is supposed to be fun for her.
“And why exactly?” I finally ask when he doesn’t reply.
He takes a deep breath and sighs. “I’m not sure I know who I am anymore, Pike. When you see your life flash before your eyes, when you realize you haven’t done much of anything except be a spoiled rich boy who beds every woman he can, it makes you think.”
Chapter Five
Dave
Those were the thoughts raging through my head as we were plummeting downward.
I was frightened, yes. Nearly pissed myself.
But after that initial moment of dread, I had this moment—and there was a moment when time seemed to be suspended, and every thought in the world raced through my mind—when I realized how ridiculous my life has been up to now.
Chasing women.
Chasing women with Brock and Donny.
And alone, recently, since Brock and Donny are now spoken for.
But sure, I grew up on the ranch. Learned from my dad about the financial end, but I also worked with Uncle Talon, Uncle Joe, and Uncle Ryan, getting a taste of what each of them did on the ranch.
All of us kids did. Our rounds, we called them.
So yeah, I worked my ass off, learned about the ranch.
Learned to ride a horse nearly as soon as I learned to walk.
I even learned to cook from my mom, who’s a gourmet chef.
Went to college with Brock, and while he studied agriculture, I studied business, knowing I’d be working with my father on the business end someday. That’s what was expected of me.
So yeah, I did all of that.
Nothing really stood out.
It wasn’t my ranch.
Sure, I’ll inherit my tenth or whatever when we all get our share, but I’m not my grandfather, Bradford Steel. After I found out about his antics and what he cost my grandmother, I’m not sure I ever want to be him.
Still, I accepted that I was privileged. Born rich, and I would always be rich. Even if our ranch went down, the Steels have enough outside investments to keep us all in a luxurious lifestyle for the next hundred years.
So, yeah. Even knowing my family history is spotted, I still had few worries.
Until I looked my life in the eye, knowing it was coming to an end…
What the hell have I accomplished?
I learned the family business. I got a college degree. I had a cushy position at my father’s side handed to me.
Put me in a box with a million other guys who have done that.
Nothing makes me stand out.
Nothing makes David Steel Simpson stand out.
Jesse doesn’t respond, and it’s not like I expect him to.
Or if he does, he’ll probably say something like, “Cry me a river, poor little rich boy,” and he’ll be right.
Finally I speak. “I’ve got to make my mark in this world, Jesse. I want to be something more than one of Bradford Steel’s grandchildren. I want to be something more than the next CFO of Steel Acres and Steel Enterprises.”
“What do you want to do?” he asks.
I bury my face in my hands, run my fingers through my hair. “That’s just it. I don’t have a fucking clue. And if I don’t know that, I sure as hell can’t be any good to any woman, and that includes your sister.”
“Don’t you break her heart,” he warns.
I look up at him. “That’s why I have to end whatever’s between us before she gets too invested. And I think…”
“What?” His voice is pointed, and his expression is far from happy.
I swallow. “I should probably go home. Because I’m not going to find my path in life on a rock and roll tour.”
He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before responding. “Look. I’m the last person in the world who’s going to tell you to keep sleeping with my sister, okay? End it if you have to, but do it soon. I don’t want her hurting any more than she already will.”
I stroke my chin. “I’m not sure she’ll be that hurt. She didn’t say anything about me coming to her room tonight. I was there right outside her door, and all she said was, ‘Good night Dave.’”
“So?”
“She didn’t invite me in.”
“Did you ask to go in?”
“No.”
“Maybe she wanted you to.” He shrugs. “How the hell should I know? I don’t know how women’s brains work. They’re a complete enigma to me. I grew up with three sisters, and they all acted nuts at some point or another. Blame it on hormones, on the double X chromosome, or maybe just the Pike genes. I don’t fucking know. Just go easy on her. Please. We’ve all been through some major trauma.”